Sports booster clubs to be consolidated at Portland and Deering high schools

PORTLAND, Maine — After more than a year of discussion on the issue, the Portland School Board voted this week to establish schoolwide athletic booster clubs for Portland High School and Deering High School, ending decades of competition for community dollars among fundraising groups devoted to individual sports teams at each school.

The school board voted to create the schoolwide booster clubs at its Tuesday night meeting, according to an announcement by the Portland Public Schools.

“The new system will improve accounting and oversight of funds, equipment and other gifts donated to the Portland Public Schools,” the department announcement stated, in part. “The schoolwide booster clubs also will ensure that the district provides equitable opportunities and treatment for all students, as required by the federal Title IX law.”

The school board must still approve guidelines and procedures governing the schoolwide booster clubs. A committee of parents and other community members will develop draft guidelines and procedures, and those will be considered by the board to be implemented in 2012.